Improvement in the manufacture of oil-stills



1 c. CUNNINGHAM: Manufacturgof Oil-Stills.

Patented Dec. 22,1874,

PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER CUNNINGHAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OIL-STILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,042, dated December 22, 1874; application filed November 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CERIsToPHER CUN- NINGHAM, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Oil-Stills; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of an oil-still constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line :10 .nof the same.

This invention relates to stills for distilling petroleum and other oils; and consists in a novel construction of the body of thestill and combinations of devices connected with the latter, and with the firechamber and fluespaces thereof, whereby not only is the still generally strengthened and its bottom prevented from sagging, but a more extended, rapid, and economical heating-surface is obtained, and great facility aftbrded for controlin g the heat, as required.

A is the body of the still. This body is of the usual cylindrical form, and is provided with a concave bottom, I). B is the fire-chamber, from which the gaseous products of combustion escape to and up through a vertical line. This tube opens through the bottom I), and is connected at its top with a cross-flue, 1), within the oil-space of the still, said crossflue connecting at its ends subject to the control of dampers G C with an outside annular tlue, H. This cross-flue D serves to brace the sides of the still, and, in connection with the vertical flue C, relieves the bottom b from much of the strain which is consequent upon the snperincumbent weight of the oil, the vertical flue not only acting as a brace or tie, but reducing the area of bottom surface exposed to the weight of the oil. The fines C and D also serve to give an extended heating-surface both by their passage through the oil and by the connection of the cross-flue D at its ends with the outer annular flue H, which latter connects below with the chimney I on the same side of the still as the damper G is situated. The dampers G G are on the ends of the cross-flue D, and accordingly as either damper is opened and the other closed, the direction in the course of the heated gases in their way to the chimney is changed, and the amount of heating-surface exposed to their action is increased or diminished, as required. Thus, when the damper G is opened and the damper G closed, the heated gases circulate within the annular flue H all around the body A before escaping by the chimney I, thereby giving an extended heating-surface; but when it is required to cool 011' the. still then the damper G is opened and the damper G closed, which causes the heated gases to pass in a direct manner from the cross-flue D to the chimney I. To give additional strength to the warch united by tension-rods d with the crossflue D, and the structure may be otherwise or additionally braced and strengthened. L is the pipe for carrying off the vapor of distillation, and M the cock for drawing the residuum from the still. N is a man-hole for giving access to the interior of the still when required.

I claim- 1. The combination, with a still-chamber, A, of the vertical pipe C passing through the oil-chamber, and connected at its lower end with the bottom I), and provided at its upper end with a horizontal or cross flue, D, open at both ends and communicating with the surrounding flue H for bracing the bottom of the still, and providing an enlarged heating-surface, substantially in the manner and for the object specified.

2. The vertical flue C, connected with the bottom I), and having at its upper end the cross-flue D, open at each end, and provided or controlled by dampers G G, in combination with the surrounding flue H and chimney, substantially as described, whereby the heated gases may be regulated in their passage to the chimney for causing the said gases to circulate within the flue H, or pass directly out of the chimney, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with the cross-flue D, vertical, flue C, and bottom I), of the still, of the arch K, and the tension-rods d connected to the arch and the cross-flue, substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHRISTOPHER CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, MICHAEL RYAN. 

